Means for storing, handling, and dispensing lumber



ug. 20,` 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS# 210121219 MEANS FOR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER Filed Sept.v 6, 1932. 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 20,- 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS 2,012,219

MEANS FOR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER Filed sept. 6, 1932 8 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 20, 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS 42,012,219

MEANS FOR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER Filed Sept. 6, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Her/MP 6fm/warns A Aug. 20, 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS 2,012,219

MEANS FOR STORING', HANDLING', lAND DISPENSING LUMBER Filed Sept. 6, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ummm ' i@ fha/e CHA/venas,

Aug. 20, 1935. A A. B. CHAMBERS 2,012,219

MEANS FOR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING/LUMBER I Filed Septf 6, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY. A

Aug. 20,' 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS 2,012,219

MEANS FR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER I Filed sept] e, 1952 f s sheetsfsheet e 19A Z5 I6 2.5

N e N (D N INVENTOR. k wf/0A CHA/vanas.

x BY Q.. Q.

' A TTORNEY Aug. 20, 1935. A. B. CHAMBERS 2,012,219

MEANS FOR STORING', HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER Filed sept. 6, '19:52 8 sheets-sheet 7 I-oisor-(n 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 AA. B. CHAMBERS Filed Sept. 6, 1952 MEANS FOR STORING, HANDLING, AND DISPENSING LUMBER Aug. 20, 1935.

ParentedAug. zo, 1935 g toreo STATS MEANS. son sToaiNe. HANDLING, AND nrsPsNsiNo Lumina Arthur B. Chambers,` Memphis, l Tenn. Application September 6, 19432, SerialNo. 631,940 v 12 Claims. (orari- 16) 'Y rl`his Vinvention relates to ajnewand improved` means for storing, handling and dispensing (merchandising) lumber.

The present methods of storing, handling and '5 merchandising lumber, particularly in retaily and semi-Wholesale transactions of lumber in single pieces or small bundles handledl like single pieces, is wasteful, costly, and unsatisfactory both to dealer and customer. It invol 'es the piece-han-v dling of thelumber many times and its cutting or trimming in such ways as to cause losses in time v and material, so as to unavoidably make theY eX-j penseof storing and khandling necessarilyy high. Much lumbenbecause of unsuitable storage fa 44 cilities, must be improperly stored in the open and exposed tothe weather, making itimpossible f A vfurther object of the invention is to provide a method and means whereby bundle'dlumberin Ylarge quantity, i. e., in larger quantity than canbe conveniently handled, butlbundled in suitable sizes and quantities for ready storage and sale,`

maybe economically stored and kept dry and D clean andfree from warping or other atmospheric damage,`and rin such manner as to enableit to' be'V put'upv for ready sale and dispensed with ajmini.- l mum of handling and without waste, softhatv lume.Y er in uniformly good condition may be suppliedr at a savingv and with greater satisfaction to thev lumber dealer and his customers.

` in the accompanying drawings, showing, for` purposes of exemplication, certain means, for; carrying my invention into practical efiect,.-

Fig. l is a sectional plan`view, showing gener-v allythe outline of a storage warehouse equippedA with handling means and having lumber stacked therein in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough the left-hand receiving end or station of the' lwarehouse.

Fig, 3 isa similar view through the right-hand deliverv'end or station of the'building. Y I F1' Liis' a vertical transverse section through'a portionof the Amain body-for storage room o f.'th'eA f warehouse, showing one of the Vstorage aisles v:for

two adjacent rows vof bundle stacks arranged therein and'also showing a crane in cooperative relation'to the stacks. g

Fig. V5 is aside view'showing the of bund es in a stack and the mode of operation of the crane cradle in applying bundles to or revmoving' the same from thestack.

Fig. 6 is an end View of the same. 1

Figs. '7 andvS are, respectively, aside elevation 10 andatransverse section through one of the trans-a. fer trucks. Y 1 Y Fig-9 is, a. View ofv the shipping rack.

Fig. l0 is a similar View of the sign rack or Fig. 1l isa view of astock sheetor directory.

- Fig. 'l2 fis a similar View of a pricesheet.-

In carrying .my invention into.- practiceI pro- -y vide a storage or warehouse structure l which may b e of any suitable form and construction, 20

butv which as shown inthe present instance is of oblong rectangular formand having side walls Z Aand end walls 3. and l of any suitablematerial or materials, and which structurey is provided inl Y` practice withr any preferred type, of roof v(not '2gshown), .Theinteriorof the building is. suitably formed and constructed to provide at the end a receiving station or roorn, atthe end 'ar delivery station jor room 6, and between the same a storageroomorspace l extending,the'fulllength 3Q of the building between. thejrooms'orstations 5 andlf- 1 Y The outer portion of the roomk 5 is provided withl a hoort on which are mounted track rails 9 of Y a trackway extending through doorways or vopen-jA 3@ ingsat the opposite sides of the room 5 and suitably connectingV 'with the main tracks or siding oa railway, whereby'cars it in which Ylumberis shipped to the Warehousepirom a mill oryother source of ,supply may be brought into the room 5 4,0` inconvenient positionforunloading. At the inncrportion of the room 5 anelevated floor or platform ll is arranged so as to conveniently re;- ceive the lumberv unloaded from theY car itl, which vfloor itis preferably disposed at the same level 45 Y as and continuous with the hoor l2 of the storage The platform l lis employed not only as anun-` loading platform, but asf a bundling platform on which the individual pieces of lumber, cutvat the 59j mill into suitable lengths for bundling, areassernbled upon a form into'vbundle shapeand united by suitable binders into such shape. f A suitable`r number of bundling forms arefprovided forthe 1 purpose, and eachisofportabletype and prefere arrangement 5,

ably comprises a wheeled hand truck I3 which may be mounted upon tracks i4, or may operate directly on the warehouse floor independent of tracks. If tracks are use-d, there should be a plurality of connecting parallel tracks so that any suitable or convenient number of `hand trucks i3 may be employed.

Each truck I3 is provided with a platform portion l5 on which the cut sticks or pieces l of lumber to be formed into bundles` are laid, and preferably, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, four sets of sticks or pieces, of the same material, are assembled upon the bundling form or truck for the formation of four bundles in each operation. The truck is provided at one end with a hinged drop gate or tail gate il and is provided at the sides thereof with suitably arranged holders I8 for the reception of stakes or standards i9, the end stakes at each side of the truck, or those nearest to the gate Il, being provided with keep@4 ers 2!! to receive latch chains or hooks 2l on the gate whereby the drop gate may be secured in upraised position. The gate l1 when in upraised position serves' as a gage or abutment against which one end of the pieces lo of the respective bundles being formed are brought to bear, so as to keep them in correct alinementV for the formation of superposed bundles whose ends are arranged out of vertical alinement for a purpose hereinafter described, the gate being provided for this purpose with abutment surfaces holders may be arranged longitudinally ofthe truck to permit of the proper placing of the stakes for bundles. of different lengths to be formed. Preferably supports 22, comprising channel irons extending transversely of the platform l5 at suitable intervals, are provided to hold the lower pieces of the bundles spaced from the platform and to receive'the lower cleats or members of binders employed to hold the pieces of the bundles assembled, and to prevent displacement of the binders during theassembling operation.k

Each binder comprises a lower wooden cleat or strip 2S to which are attached the lower ends of metal straps 2li, and an upper wooden cleat or strip 25 to which the upper ends of the straps are to be secured. -The binders, of which two or more may be employed to each bundle for securing the pieces thereof together, according to the length of the bundle, are arranged a :fixed distance apart and serve as spacing members of the bundles to permit of the crane cradle or rack being placed for the lifting or placing of bundles. The bundle former as thus constructed is-adapted for the formation of two sets or piles of superposed bundles, one set or pile on each side of the longitudinal center of the former, in such manner as to reducevboth time and labor in these operations and also in such manner as to automatically gage the placing of the pieces to secureA their correct placing without material care or thought on the part of the operator, as well as to` l dle, after which a corresponding number of top cleats 25 are laid across the top pieces l5 of the bundleand the straps 24 then drawn tight about the assembled pieces and their upper or free ends secured to the cleats 25 to complete the formation of the bundle. Two

Ibottom bundles may thus be formed simultaneously on the bed of the truck. Then two other bundles may be formed on top of these completed bundles by placing other lower cleats 23 against the .upper cleats 25 of bundles already formed and the operation continued same as in forming of `the lower bundles. The bundling trucks carry center stakes or standards i9 to keep the bundles of two piles apart vertically in forming the bundles, and these stakes and the side stakes I9 serve as gages to ensure the placing of the pieces so that the outer longitudinal edges of the outermost or side pieces in each horizontal row of parallel pieces will accurately register at the sides of the'bundle. A gage may be used to similarly keep the bundles comprising the respective lpiles apart when being transported by crane. The completedbundlesmay then be removed by lifting them vertically oif the hand truck after gate I1 is lowered and stakes I9 loosened. The cleats 23 resting in supportsV .22 provide a means for spacing the bundles from the platform l 5 to permit of the insertion of the engaging members of ay crane under and about the bundles to adapt the same to be removed.

Theparticular manner in which the bundles may be formed, and the'advantages arising therefrom, will be readily understood by reference to Figs. l, 7, 8 and the following description. It will be noted that each truck i3 provides a bundle former which is open at one (its rear) end and closed atits opposite (or forward) end when the drop gate il is swung upward and latched in such position. In forming a bottom bundle between the center and left hand side of the bundle former, for example, the bottom slats 23 ofthe binders for the bundle, to which the binder straps are attached, are placed in the proper channeled holders 2 2, whereby the binders are accurately gaged as to position respecting their distances from each other and their distances from the ends of the bundle to be formed. The bundle former I3 having been arranged alongside the carrier vehicle Iii containing the lumber pieces which' are to be formed into bundles, the lumber pieces directly, when and vas removed from the vehicle id, are placed in position on the bundle former. In so doingthenrstlumber piece of the horizontal bottom row is inserted longitudinallythroughthe open rear end of the formerso that its outer side edge bears against either the stakes E9 or the stakes i9', ac-

cordingly as the pieces are laid from left to right or right to left, and until the forward end of said lumber piece abuts against the bottom abutment surface Il of the abutment member il, whereby in the act of inserting the lumber piece, which restsupon thegaging holders 22, one endrof theV amiamo;

lumber, piece', one side of the;lumber pieeeandy the bottoinsofathe lumber piecel are pnoperly, gaged, .with reference tothe positions Whichthey are tooccupy in the bundle andk with regard to the spacingrof the lumber piece above the gap 15,. without particular attention or careon the part ofthe operator. After this'rst'lumber piece of the bottom row is inserted theV intermediate. andi side'pieces composing the bottomfrow are fitted..

in position in parallel relation to each: otherand` so that the forward ends of said pieces will engage the abutment surface llf and the side piece Willa engage the stakes i9 or the stakes i 9', as the case maybe, according to' whether the row is formed from left to right or right to left of the formingv space. The lumber'pieces comprising the other rows are then laid bythe operatorsin like inan-V ner. upon the preceding rows until the requiredM number of rows .of superpcsed lumber pieces have been built up to iorm the bottom bundle. The upper binder slats 25 are then applied across the upper row of lumber pieces fand the ends of the binder slats drawn over upon and secured there# to, whereby a bound bundleis formed inwhich the slats at the ends and'sidesoic the bundle are exactly gaged or disposed in registering alinenient with each other and in which the top and bottom slats 23 and 25 of the bundle are accurately spaced' and arranged to serve as abutment gages for the*- :torinationof a second or 'top bundle on the bottom bundle so formed. y After the formation ofthe bottom bundle iscompleted, the binders for the topfbundleV are set in position with their bottom slats engaging the rearedges of the top slats olf the binders of the-lower` bundle and resting on the top row of lumber pieces oir thelbottolm bundle,r whereby said binders of the top bundle are prop*- erly set in gaged position to space `them theV samed distance apart as the binders oi' the bottom bundle. The top bundle is then formed by the l insertion of lumber pieces in the same manner as Yabove described with -relationto the bottom bundle until the required numberoi rows-of lumber pieces are built upto form a second bundle having the same number of pieces and of the same dimensions as those of the bottom bundle,

the bottom slats of the binders of Ythe top'bundle supporting said bundlefrorn; the bottom bundle and spacing the bottom row of lumberpiecesl of'v the top bundle an accurate distance from the'top row oi lumber piecesy of the` bottom bundle. In.

the operation of assembling lthe lumber pieces forming the top bundle, the forward ends of these. lumberpieces are brought'to bear againstr the in-H ner abutment surface llaof the abutment l1,

which lies in a vertical plane offset inwardly from the abutment surface il', as a result of,V

which the forward endr of thertop bundle f clsrmed is spaced longitudinally'from or causedto terminate a gaged distanc'ein'wardlyfrom the forward end of thebottom bundle, whereby the rearI end ofthetop bundle is cause'd'to projectja similar distance rearwardly-beyond the rear end off .the bottombundle, so that the ends of the'super posed bundles .will be offset to lie in diierent vertical planes or staggered with relationto leach other. YWhile a' pair ofv superposed bundlesY are*v being formed inthe mannerdescribedbetween the longitudinal center and' left'hand end ofthe former, two similar bundles may be yinzprocess of) formation between the longitudinal center and right hand side oi the former, so that four bundles comprising two piles, of a pair of superposed` bundles' to a pile, may be ormedatthe same timev Y upon the vbundle forn'ier..v By. this construction. of `theforrne'rand'mode of forming thelbundles, the lumber pieces may be directly delivered from the vehicle Nitin the dimensioned torni. in which theyv are supplied fromv a lumber mill and placed Y f that in the operation'V upon the forming. truck so of' placing the lumber. pieces they will at thesame time be formed into bundlesgwithja,material reduction in time andlabor over all customary practices'inbundlingflumberfor storage orfor storageand'dispensation; The lumber piles may then be delivered by movementof the truck to apoint wherefthey are tobe transmrtedY by al crane .to aof the bottom bundles and into the space' between the sanne andfthevy bed `i5,- thusl facilitating the operation oferigagingthe bundles with the crane" slings and reducingA time "and labor in that connection. As, also, inthe forming operation, the

'piles of bundles are' *provided `.with spacing binders yand so arranged; that the VbundlesY of eachgpilehavef their ends staggered, the piles of bundles transported by the Vcrane may be laid f directlyupon other Vsirnilar piled bundlesr and5` that two stacks yof parallel bundles, inY which the bundles of each stackjare longitudmallyfstaggaged vas placed in rposition by the binders so gered with relation to each other, may/be built up l 'without the exercise of any particular careH or adjustments vonfthe partei` the craneoperator, thusf'providing forthe, stora'geof the bundles in,v Vstacks y,in a time andglabor saving'v manner; f'As previously stated, as the endsof. thewbundles'y in the stacks aref disposed in staggered relation, the' operation of engaging the slings ofgthebrane therewith in removing bundles frorn'arstack' is in `this operation.y j

It will be understoodV fromthe-:foregoing that the stock lumber suitably cut or in suitablesizes to be formed into bundles ofthe desired size is',

upon its'ren'iovalV from the; carv [@loaded upon the truck'forms i3 and formed into bundles in the' unloading` operation-the bundle rormingoperations being Vcompleted by uniting the 'free ends ofthebinder strips, so that'pwithbut a single handling of the material as unloaded from` the supply car lll, itmay be `formed into. bundles. ready for conveyance'to and storage in the ware? house'. room 'LI Cranesgorequivalent hoisting also facilitated and time andlabor further saved and conveying apparatusv 2liY are kprovidedj ior transferring .the bundles from the receiving room 5 tothe storage room] and stacking-them in thelatter, and deliveringrthebundles iromfth'e' stacks, required;- to thedelivery `room t-for outg'o'sliipment.vv A plurality of trucks I3 arel employed 'in order that the operation Tof unload- Ving vthe lumbery froml the supply 'cari it and lits formationinto bundles may be carriedout by successive 'operations ofl forming "bundleson" truckslfone afterl the other, witl'ioutlthe necesy` sity of 'delaying' such operations l'While -loaded trucks are waiting tobe" relieved ottheirbundles by the working cranes, when and; in theevent that the cranesv are actively engaged at the timevr in stacking work in the room 1 or in the transportation of bundles to the stacks or from the stacks to the delivery room, thus avoiding the Waste of time which would otherwise occur.

The room or storage space 1 is divided vby longitudinal rows of columns or uprights 21 into a desired number of aisles or alleyways extending uninterruptedly from the iloor level I2 to a point near the roof of the building or a desired level below the same. In the present instance the room 1 is shown as divided by the rows of columns 21 into i'lve aisles or alleys 28, 29, 30, 3|, and 32, inclusive, each designed to receive at least two longitudinally extending and transversely alined rows of stacks or piles of bundles formed as pre# viously described.` same width, if stacks of bundles of the same length are to be stored therein, but are preferably of suitably different widths to receive stacks of lumber in bundles of different lengths according to the type or character of the lumber of which the bundles are composed. The bundles of the different stacks or piles, however, are so formed and arranged as to register in transverse rows, so that an equal number of piles or stacks may be placed in each longitudinal row, or the rows so disposed that the stack or pile positions may be properly numbered for each right and left hand pile or stack in each aisle, for convenience in placing theV stacks orpiles in positiony and in locating the same for piling yand unpiling operations and for the purpose of sto-ring and dispensing different kindsof lumberl in a convenient and rapid manner. To this end, the pile or stack positions in each aisle are properly designated, as by numbers prominently placed upon the floor l2 or at other convenient points. In the present instance each aisle 28 to 32 inclusive, is shown as provided with fifty-v one stack spaces or stations, which are properly numbered from the delivery end toward the 1receiving end of the building, each stack space or stage having inner and outer right and left hand transversely alined stacks arranged therein, which are spaced from each other at their inner andproximate ends by a conveyor passageV 33 andl which are separated at their outer ends from the columns 21 by spaces 34. These spaces 33 and 34 provide longitudinal aislettes valong the sides of the stacks or between the stack rows for passage of employees or attendants and for travel of cooperating portions of the cranes or conveyors whereby the bundles may be transported.

The columns 2 1 carry tracks 35 which support track rails 36, two such track rails 36 being provided in each stack aisle for engagement by the wheels or rollersy of a traveling crane or, conveyor 31 mounted for longitudinal travel therein, and which track rails also extend beyond the stack aisles over the receiving station 5 and delivery station 6 so .that the crane may be employed to` pick up the bundles formed on the hand trucks at the receiving stationy and convey them to the stacking points in the room 1 for building up and replenishing the piles or stacks whenV required, and for transporting the bundles to be sold or shipped out from the stacks to the delivery or shipping'station 6. The crane is provided with adepending carriage 38 to contain the operator and control devices and which travels in the passage 33 between the piles or stacks, so that the operator may be in a position to conveniently control the crane and to observe the stacks and govern .the placing of the bundles upon one These aisles may be of theY another or their removal from the piles or stacks. The carriage 38 carries a ladder 39 to enable the operator or others to conveniently ascend to or descend from the carriage, and in practice this ladder `is preferably supported so that it may be moved downwardly forV use when desired and drawn upwardly into the crane carriage when not in use. The crane bridge carries, on opposite sidesof the carriage, a pair of hoisting members 40 for supporting hooks, grapples or similar bundle engaging membersfll which may consist, as sho-wn in the present instance, of U-shaped cradles of angle iron pivotally mounted on the Yhoist 40 so as to be slipped under and about the ends of one or more bundles to support the same for transit, and to be withdrawn outwardly to release the vbundles for deposit. The engaging members 4I of the cranes used in the different aisles may be of diierent sizes and suitably sized for engagement with one or more bundles of piles or stacks stored in the different aisles, according to the widths and heights of the bundle or bundles to be engaged. In addition to the end engaging members, vone or more center or intermediate engaging members may also be employed when necessary on long length lumber to lend support and prevent sagging of the bundles. The center engaging members are not shown, as these may be of any ordinary or preferred type, and as the construction and use of such devices will be readily understood by those versed in the art without illustration or further description.

It will vbe observed thatV the depending crane carriage 38 is of such narrow width that it may travel in the aisle between two lumber stacks without interference therewith, and that this carriage terminates at a sufficient level above the iloor of theaisle to permitattendants to walk along the aisle between the stacks and beneath the crane while the latter is in operation, so that thefloor of each aisle and the aisle itself is free of obstructions to the travel of workmen or others in the plant engaged in lumber inspecting and other operations even during the operation of a crane. When the crane is in active operation the ladder 39 is drawn upward to an out of the way position and is lowered only when the crane operator wishes to descend from the crane carrier to the floor level or to climb upward into the crane carrier into the floor level. This construction ofthe crane carriage permits of the arrangement of the slings l0 at opposite sides thereof so as tobe disposed for operation above the respective stacks at opposite sides of the aisle and so as to be simultaneously or independently'manipulated by the operatorrin the crane carriage to remove bundles from the stack or to pile bundles thereon at any level.

Upon the floor or other suitable portions of the building may be placed suitable signs or indicia specifying the sizes and kinds of lumber stored in the piles in the respective aisles, and it will be understood that, in practice, bundles of lumber of the same/kinds and lengths, or different kinds and lengths up to a certain limit may be stored in each aisle. Thus, by reference' to Fig. 1, it will be seen from the designations given that `aisle 28 contains stacks or piles of bundles of eight feet, nine feet and ten feet, re-Y feo aeiaale v'torn totopthereof, solthatthe ends of .the-bunf. dles atv/eachfend'of thepilenor staclewill alter.-

;twenty, twenty-two and twentyffourffoot lengths arranged in appropriatepiles. y

The lumber .contained-nthe bundlesin Athe .piles or-stacks maybeotdiversiied ,character and .comprise .the entire yrange of the ,different kinds of lumber commonlyrcarriedby a c lealer` for retailer semi-wholesale 'purposes,fnamely,.irani-v ing in all of its Various sizes `and different lengths, siding, flocring,. ceiling, bulkheadgetcaand there may be in eachbundle apredetermined number of pieces of argivonlength,` making a desired total number of feet ofthe particular material in each bundle; Thus, for example,v theremayfbe'tbirtyf six pieces of2 x 4 materialfeachof a length .of

eight feet, in each bundle ofza `certain pilefor vstack andthe vsaine number of j pieces .but of dii"- ferent lengths of the same material in other piles or stacks, and theremay be twenty-four pieces of 2 x6 material, eachl of ,.eightLfeet, in each bundle of a certain stack or stacksfand thesarne `number of pieces, but of A diierent lengths, in

bundles* of other stacks, and this -rnay applyito diierent kinds, lengths and qualitiesotv lumber, put up -inbundles of .any desired number of pieces and ootage'to suit-the usual trade de- Irlands. The piles Yor stacks ,of different kinds,`

length and grades of lumber are conveniently ar.-

ranged in the numbered stack positions or stages in thediierent' aisles, eachstack position or stage bearing a designating number .applying to two Ytransversely `alined piles or stacks, which` may `loe differentiated by the use, in addition to the number, of the letter L to indicate-'left and the letter Y R tofindicate right,v as L18 and R19, whereby,y their positions may be simply and accurately indicated.

In the operation of the cranel alongthe aisles forthe purpose of depositing or removing k'bun-- dles, the engaging Vmorn-bers of the `crane hoist travel int-he -spaoes or passages 34 andI one purpose of applying binders Vof the character de- Y other superposeduponj it.Y Preferably, but not necessarily, the binders are also sopositioned that the bundles when'pil'ed Willhave theirends lonfgitudina'lly spaced from'foneanother l to jfurther "facilitate the. .engagement of vtlie'rcraneY engaging members therewith. :As'beore' described, the binders are disposed a'fixedrdistance apart with .relation'to each otherfand to the ends ofthe bundles, so that in placing one'bundle upon another the lower cleats 23' of each upperbundle maybe arranged to abut.laterally' .against the upper cleats 23 of the bundle immediately below it, with. the result thatthe ,bundles willV be yyertically spaced by the cleatsbetween their proximate faces, and vthe binders arealso ,preferably so disposed .aste cause'the-bundlesto .belongi- -tudinally spacedl by reasonof the fact .thatethe binders Will be out `of vVertical .ali-nement .andfone -end of each bundle :will `projectbeyond onover- -lap the adjacentn end of an-adjacent yl'ninolleand the. opp'csite ,end of the rstgnamed yl oundlevyi-ll lie within. the Vertical plane of this :ad-jacentiend of the yother bundle. By this-'arrangement when the. bundles are arrangediin stackfonrnationthe superposed bundleswillflie 'n .zigzag .s ordergors-.arrangement tnroughoutrtheipileiorrstack.trombat- Verations .nient in which Ytwo .vertical rowsjofbundlesdn ,each pile or Y'stack y.are disclosed. the .dles as formed on .the forming trucks rnaybe picked f up b y a. conyeyor Vand conveyed to the' storage roo-niand deposited inthe proper stack space orupon'the proper stack pile, and in aSimilar rnannerbundles may be transported from natelyprojectyor recedewithrelationftc :each

oth'e rh.` With this arrangenfient the .projecting ends..of adjacent superposfed VJbundles will 4,forrn guides to adapt the crane :engaging rnernbersi Vlil to be easilyslipped in position between suchbundles Afor the removalfof .theluppelj'rbundle and any kdisposed above it,.loywhich insane the operation of stacking and unstaclging thev bundles `mayvbqe .performed with` great ease and. y.failitr and in a `tirn'eand labor. saving'nianner. Each .stack or pileniay consist 0i v'single ybundle units arranged in superposed lordenor of two-or moresets of superposed units, asdesired and as practical opmay` require Fs- 6 showing Lan arrangeany stack or pile' in the storage room` to the de-` .Y

Y livery platform at tl1edelivery station A. fforltrans- ,fer to a delivery trucker Vehclein the shipment vofthe lumber to a customer, such loperations yeri-- -abling unitary bundles containing fixed amounts `v`of lumber of ,any kindv to be handled aY minimum Ynumber of times. and Withtheggreatest ease rand facility to reduce handling expenses, VWhile .enrablingA material Oapredeterrnined `or'stOCk size to be supplied'without-:Waste orf-liability. of darn-f. age in conducting a sales'transaction. r.While-this i zigzagmethod ofy piling is preierred, any other inethodoi piling allowing ready removal `of loundles may be employed.'4 y

The delivery room or stationG isprovided with and 'forming a roadway for delivery trucks or storage room 'l bythe proper crane. Theiroom E5 is alsol provided with a platform .M arranged at the same level Vas the platform il i and floor i2 -venience in conductingor supervising lload `transshipping; cardeholding trarne or rack H6 of `the ytype shown inEigs. ,'Z'fand 48,I respectively. The

chart `.or directory-A5 is Aprovided with ,a central Vertical spacegl above which is placedfthe Word TrucksQ-andfon opposite sides ofthe central the sub-,dvisionslof the 'left hand spaces-being headed by thetdesignating caption Leftandfthe subdiyisionsofthe right hand spaces being designated bythe caption fRight. In the sub-.dt-y

visions' .of the vertioalspace are adapted-.t0 :be lplaced and hung; or otherwise suitably supported sign plates be'aring numbers or? other indicia thejestablishment or a sign Fil bearing@ starre@ presenting an-.o'utside truck or .one.;'o,wned bifya vcustomer or Adelivery concern calling foranprder,

while ,in thesub-divisions of the spaoesAS .and

daaro intended to be. placed-and hung porV .other` wisey supported sign. plates 52.k .bearing ,numbers designatingA thepile-rowsfinthe storage aisles. ,Quantity tags .53 ,are hung over-the upper ,part

, ,off designating tags-52 so .-as tdshow they number affloor i2 below the level of thefloorsf il and -Ix2- veliicles A3 tofwhich the vbundles ofi lumber for .delivery may :be .directly transferred froin n, the

.fers-andother transactions.j Preierably there isl provided upon the Wall il .above .the'platforrnld ashipping chart or ,directory .boardll5 -.and kvrva vertical'space-are other `spaces@ and r-filesepgarated, like thespace Vlll, .byhorifzontal -transverse lines `intoplacard receiving subedivisions,

. :.65 representing the diierentdelivery -trucks.43of I `45.. f Aon whicha `sl-iipping clerk may stand for conthese operations.

, Voral instructions and in such manner as to prevent waste of time in delivering operations. The rack orholder 45 isdesigned-to hold a supply of the numbered plates B, 5l, 52, and 53 and is provided with properly designated compartments for the purpose, the pockets of the stack plates corresponding in numberto the number of stack piles in the aisles,--as'will be evidentV by reference to the plate holding pockets of the rack designated by the word Stocks.

There are also preferably provided `at suitable points Within the delivery or shipping room stock `sheets or boards designating the kinds of material and theA location thereof in the storage room l. One of these stock sheets or delivery sheets designated 55 as shown in Fig. 11, is applied to the stock contained in the bundles of the stacks of one of the aisles or alleys, and it will be understood that in practice a sheet or directory of this kind will be provided for indicating the character and location of the material in the bundles yof the piles or stacks in each ofthe aisles or alleys. This sheet or directory contains reference to various sizes or kinds of material, and the grade thereof, and the number of the stack or pile in Which it is kept, preceded by the letter R or letter L, as the case may be, to indicate that the material is in the right hand or left hand stacks of stack stage No. l. By reference to this the location of any kind of lumber kept for sale in the establishment may be readily, conveniently and quickly determined, and the craneman operating in any aisle or alleyway may, by the manner in which the piles in the aisles are designated, quickly stop his crane and bring it into position to remove bundles from the designated pile or piles for transfer to the delivery trucks, thus saving time and work in For the convenience of the employees and customers there may also be placed at a suitable point in the delivery Vroom a price sheet or board 54 of the type shown in Fig. l2, which sheet or board is provided with appropriately designated spaces giving the number of pieces of material in 2 X 4 or other kind of stock, the length of the bundle, the total number of feet therein, the price per thousand, and the price per bundle, and this sheet, only a portion of which as actually used in practice is shown, may and will preferably be provided with divisions giving information respecting the kind andnumber of pieces of material of dierent classes in all the 'bundles throughout the piles or stacks and other information of the kind noted with the object of reducing time and labor and facilitating the conduct of the business. The price tables given are designated; for use, in accordance with this method of handling lumber, in the selling of bundles of lumber of a certain number of pieces for a specific amount, the feet content and price per thousand being indicated only for comparative purposes with outside prices. In practice, each bundle of lumber of similar size may contain the same number of pieces irrespective of its length, Y

comprising loose pieces of lumber, as 2" X 2 pieces to wit, all 2 x 4 can pack thirty-six pieces to the bundle and the feet content would be determined kfor delivery shipment.

amable by the length of the lumber, while 2 X 6 wouldl have only twenty-four pieces to the bundle, 2 X 8 eighteen pieces, and so on as indicated, the price tables allowing comparisons to be made with prices for lumber charged in lumber transactions conducted in the usual way.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the mechanical means for carrying my inventio-n into practice will be readily understood, and it will be seen that vthe invention provides a Warehouse construction and system of bundling lumber and stacking the bundled lumber therein whereby larger quantities of lumber.` may be stored within a warehouse of given size by the method of bundling and stacking and the elimination of the driveways usually emplo-yed for conveyance purposes. Also it will be seen that my invention provides a system and means whereby the lumber asv delivered from a mill orsource of supply may be bundled in proper shape for either retail or semi-wholesale sales transactions, and whereby such lumber may not only be rapidly formed into bundles but con- Veyed to and stacked within the warehouse in a ready and convenient manner and in such a manner as to enable bundles of diierent kinds of lumbertoibe quickly located and removed from the stacks and transported to a delivery room or stage This system of bundling and ystoring lumber allows the lumber to be kept clean and dry and straighter lumber, that is, lumber free from warping or crookingand twisting defects, to be furnished at lower than usual prices.

This also follows from the fact that the lumber may be stored and handled with less waste and in less time and with less labor as many usual handling operations are eliminated and the time periods o-f other necessary operations reduced.

Other importantadvantages are as follo-ws, first, that the bundled lumber is bundled, stored and merchandised in such a way that its position as to direction is never changed from the time it reaches the bundling room until it reaches the warehouse on delivery trucks; second, that the lumber is stored in aisles in the warehouse with all piles arranged in such order that bundles from any of the piles may be conveniently picked up by transfer cranes, the arrangement of the piles being such as to facilitate the engagement of the engaging members-of the cranes with the bundles in stacking and delivery operations; third, the Warehouse arrangement allows the lumber to be K stacked'as nearly as possible with all of one length fifth, my improved system and apparatus permits of the warehousing and merchandising of bundled lumber in quantities that can not be conveniently lhandled by hand and of a character allowing immediate delivery of specified quantities of lumber in bundled form, so as" to' reduce time, labor and expense to both the dealer andv the customer.

Fig. 5 shows the use of anti-tipping stays 23 each 4 long, placed so as to extend at intervals menagere Y depending theref'roin into the aisle V'between-.the f spaced 'stacks of vbundles therein, gsaid conveyor x 'also having 'bundle engaging .devices at opposite between bundles of twevertieaipiies'of bundles :forming astack, and which may be arrangedbe- Ytween every fourth or fifth bundle of erachpile,

to tie the piles of artall stack together to prevent 'the stack'from tcppling over.

' minimum of two narrow piles maybe supported 'through the coupling of the'piles by the Astays as y to prevent the stack from falling over.

While theconstruction of parts `ofthefapparatus herein disclosed are preferred'io'r the `carryingof the invention intopractical effect, it is 'to vbe understood, of course; thaty the. inventionl is vnot limited to the particular steps and structural features'shown and describedfor purposesaof exemplication, but that suitable variations in the stepscf the rnethodand changes in theiform, Aconstruction and arrangementfofparts of the apparatus'may be made, withi'nithe scopeV ofv the appended. claims, without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing anyv of the advantages of the invention. Y

What I claim ist- 1,'In `an' apparatus of thevcharacter described,

thev combination of a storage warehouse vhaving a istorage chamber provided witha supporting ldoor, a receiving stationY at one'end ofthe storage chamber having a roadwayfor vehicles, a delivery `station having a roadwayfor vehiclesand kdisposed at the opposite end of the storage chamber, .vertical partitions inthestorage chamberfdi- ASviding the same into passages extendingllongi'- -tudinally of said chamber between. the` receiving 'and' delivery stations, Veach oisaid passages befing -.stacks of 'denitely sized bundles of material spaced to vform an intervening aisle and lsupported on the floor of the chamber, a wheeled rnaterial bundling and `bundle transportingltruck mounted for-travel rat'the receiving station so las to be disposed imposition to re'ceivefindividual 'pieces oilmaterial unloaded from a transport vehicle standing on V:thejroadwayat'the receiv- -ing station and to transport `bundles formed therefrom to a-position in alinement with a pas- Ssage ofthe storage chamber, said truck having 'fa forming bed provided at opposite sides'and. one Eend Athereof with vertical `abutment 'andf gaging 'lsurfaces and having transversely arranged hold- -ers for'holding bundlelbin'der and 'gaging bands rra-nged in spaced relation to each other and tto said rend abutment and 'ga'ging surfaces where,-

`by the individual pieces 'of materialas unloaded from the transport vehicle maybe laidVv thereon and autoinatically'gaged as laid bytheiabutnfient .surfaces in such order and arrangement Aasiste/"ce ibound'together'by" the binder bands 'in/such manner esto form a bundle of a definite size vandv number of pieces and having the `binder'fbands' spaced a predetermined'distance from each vother and the ends oithe bundle,l a trackway`v extending longitudinally ci the storage ohamberabove each Y passage thereoibe'tween the' receiving .andSdelivery stations, and a` conveyor inounted'jfor travelon -said trackway and havinglia-carniage It will'beunder- Ystood that a stacktwentyfeet high or higher, and y formed of a` single pile oi two feetv'wide bundles would be unstable and would fall overif snotV of a width and height'to receive at least twoV :sides of the carriage for engaging'bundles one. materialv buildingv and bundle. v transporting truck disposed in' alineinent with a passage and transsame to une delivery station..

Znan apparatus ofthe character described, the combination of avstorage .warehouse having a-"storage chamber Yprovided with a supporting floor, a receiving station at one-end of the storvage-chamber'having a roadway for fvehicles at its outerl portion and a platform at its-inner portion and disposedfbetween lthe roadway and the'fsaid end of the storage chamber, a delivery 'station havingaroadway for vehicles and disposedatthe oppositefend ofthe storage charnb-er, vertical partitionsiin the storage chamber dividing lthe sameintopassagesv extending longitudinally of said chamber between the receiv- 1ing andi-delivery stations, each of vsaid passages Ebeing ofk a width -andheight 'to receive at least 'two stacks .of definitely sized :bundles oi ima'- terial spaced itc form an intervening aisle 1 and supported on vthe'floor of the chamber', a'-'tracl i system onthe platiorniat the receiving'station i comprisingfa plurality of tracks having con- -necting switches and extending across the intake ends of the passages o'f the storage chamber,

Vvwheeled material bundling and bundle 4transporting trucksvrnounted on said tracksso as to be interchangeablydisposedfon the `tracks in position to receiveindividual pieces of material y unloadedirom a transport vehicle'standing on the roadwayat vthe receiving stationand'rnov'- ablev therefrom on the tracks to a position in.

alinementwith any of the passages of the storfage chamber, eachtruck having a forming bed `provided at opposite'sides and one end thereof with Yver-tical abutment' and gaging` surfaces and having transversely arranged holders for hold-A ing bundle'binder and gaging bands arranged inf spaced relation to eachother and to said'endY `abutment and gaging surfaces whereby the in- Y"dividual pieces "of vmaterialV as unloaded ufrom the transport vehicle may loe laid thereonfandv automatically gaged as laid by the abutment surfaces inf such order and arrangement as to be.

Iboundtogether by the "binder bands 1 in such "mannerfas to 'forma bundle kvof fawdenite size and'nurnber of pieces and lhaving the binder Y Y bands spaced a predetermined distance Afrom keach other and the ends of the bundle, a trackway Aextending llongitudinally of; theH storage fchamberl above eachpassage ,thereof between the receiving and delivery stationaanda con-` .veyor mountedV for travel on said trackway and vhaving acarriage depending therefrom intogthe aisle' between the spaced stacksofbundles there- ,-in, said conveyorY also having bundle engaging :devices at opposite sides of the carriage for eng'aging bundles bundle transporting truck 'disposed in with a (passage andtransporting said :bundles VYon the material bundling and alinement therefrom along thepassage `for deposit ktherein 3. In an apparatus of the character described, .the combination of a storage warehouse having a storage chamber provided with a supporting floor, a receiving station at one end of the stor- .age chamber having a roadway for vehicles, a Idelivery station having a roadway for'vehicles -and disposed at the opposite end of the storage chamber, vertical partitions in the storage cham- ',ber dividing the same -into passages extending longitudinally of said chamber between `the receiving and delivery stations, each of said passages being ol a width and height to receive at .least two stacks of definitely sized bundles of material spaced to form an intervening aisle and `supported on therloor of the chamber, a wheeled Ymaterial bundling and bundle transporting truck at the receiving station adapted to be disposed in position to receive pieces of material unloaded from a transport vehicle standing on the roadway at the receiving station and movablev therefrom to a position in alinement with a designed passage of the storage chamber, said truck having means for holding spaced bundle binders and provided with coacting gaging abutments so with other like bundles and gaged as to relationship by the binders to form a stack in which theY ends of the bundles are arranged in zigzag or staggered order from bottom to top of the stack, a trackway extending longitudinally ofy the storage chamber above each passage thereof between the receiving and `delivery stations, and a conveyor arranged for travel on said overhead trackway and having a carriage arranged to de pend therefrom into the aisle between the spaced stacks of bundles therein, said conveyor also having bundle engaging devices at opposite sides Vof the carriage for insertion in the spaces between the staggered ends of bundles of the stacks and ready engagementwith the ends of bundles for lifting and transporting the same from the stacks to the receiving station and for engaging land transporting bundles from the forming truck to the stacks and depositing them so that the binders of the Vdeposited bundles will engage the binders of underlying bundles of the stacks to automatically gage and dispose the deposited bundles in staggered relation to such bundles of the stacks. i

4. An apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein the depending carriage of the conveyor terminates a substantial distanceabove the level of the floor of the storage chamber and is provided with a vertically movable ladder;

5. In a storage apparatus having a storage chamber provided with a material supporting floor and divided by vertical partitions into storage spaces, each of a width and height to receive at least a pair of stacks of material piled in bundles upon Vthe floor of the chamber and spaced to form an aisle of a predetermined width therebetween, a trackway extending longitudinally above each storage space, a conveyor mounted to travel upon said trackway and having a carriage extending downwardly therefrom into the aisle between the stacks, said carriage being of less width than the width ofthe aisle and terminating a substantial distanceabove the level of the floor' so as to allow free passage to pedestrians in the aisle beneath the carriage, gripping devices mounted on the conveyor at opposite sides of the carriage to respectivelyA engage bundles of the respective stacks at opposite sides of the aisle, and a ladder mounted onthe carriage for raising and lowering movements. l

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a storage warehouse having a storage'ichamber provided with a supporting o'or, a receiving station at one end of the storage chamber having a roadway for vehicles at its outer portion and a platform at its inner portion disposed between the roadway andthe said end of thev storage chamber, a delivery station having a roadway for vehicles and disposed at the opposite end of the storage chamber, vertical partitions in the storageochamber dividing the same into passages extending longitudinally of said chamber between the receiving and delivery stations, each of said passages being of a width and height to receive at least two stacks of definitely sized bundles of material lspaced to form an intervening aisle and supported on the floor of the chamber, a wheeled material bundling and bundle transporting truck mounted for travel on the platform at the receiving station so as to be disposed in position tooreceive individual pieces of material unloaded from a transport vehicle stand- .ing on the roadway at the receiving station and to transport bundles formed thereon therefrom to a position in alinement with a passage of the storage chamber, said truck having a forming bed provided at opposite sides and one end thereof with vertical abutment surfaces. and having transversely arrangedholders for holding bundle binder and gaging bands arranged in spaced relation to each other and to said end abutment surface, whereby the individual pieces of material as unloaded from the transport vehicle may be laid thereon and gaged automatically as laid by the abutment surfaces in such order and arrangement as to be bound together by the binder bands in suchmanner as to form a bundle of a denite size and number of pieces and having the binder bands spaced a predetermined distance from each other and the endsof the bundle, a trackway extending longitudinally of the storage chamber above each passage thereof between the receiving and delivery stations, and a conveyor mounted for travel on said trackway and having a carriage depending therefrom into the aisle between the spaced stacks of bundles therein, said conveyor also having bundle engaging devices at opposite'sides of the carriage for engaging bundles on a material bundling and bundle transporting truck disposed in alinement with a passage and transporting said bundles therefrom along the passage for deposit therefrom to form and replenish the stacks of bundles in the passage, and for picking up bundles from the stack at either side of the aisle in the passage and conveying the same to the delivery station.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a storage warehouse having a storage chamber provided with a supporting fioor, a receiving station at one end of the storage chamber having a roadway for vehicles at its outer portion and a platform at its inner portion and disposed between the roadway and the said end of the storage chamber, a delivery station having a roadway for vehicles and disposed at the opposite end of the storage chamber, vertical partitions in the storage chamber dividing amaneof denitely sized bundles of material spaced to form an intervening aisle and supported on the` floor r"of the chanfiber,A a trackfsystem on the platform at the receiving `station comprising a plu- Y rality of tracks having' connecting switches and extending across the intake ends ofthe passages of the storage chamber, a wheeled material bundling and bundle transporting truck mounted.

' on said tracks so as to be interchangeably disposed on the tracks in position to receive individual pieces of material unloaded from a transport vehicle standing on the roadway at the receiving station and movable therefrom on the tracksto a position in alinement with any of the passages of the storage chamber, Yeach truck having means for holding-spaced bundletbinders and Y provided with coacting gaging abutments so relatively arranged that the lindividual pieces of n material as unloaded from the transport vehicle may be laid thereon inn such order and to be so bound by the binders as toform a'pile of superposed bundles each of a definite size and number of pieces'and with the binders thereof abutting and holding the bundles rvertically'spaoed and the ends of the bundles longitudinally spaced whereby such bundles are adapted to be piled with other like bundlesy and gaged as to relationship by the binders' to form av stack in which the ends of the bundles are arrangedY in zigzag or staggeredv order from bottom to top of the stack, a trackway extending longitudinally of the storage chamber above each passage thereof between the receiving and deliveryV stations, and a conveyor arranged for travel on said overhead trackl way and having a carriage arranged to depend therefrom into the aisle between the spaced stacks of bundles therein, saidl conveyor also hav- Y ing bundle engaging devices at oppositersides of the carriage for insertion in the'spaces between the staggered ends Vof bundles of the stacks and ready engagement withthe ends of bundles for lifting and transporting-the same from the stacks to the receiving station and for engaging and transporting bundles from the forming truck to the stacks and depositing them so that the bindage chamber having a roadway for vehicles at its j outer portionand a platform at its inner portion and disposed between the roadway and the said end of the storage chamber, a delivery station having a roadway for vehicles and disposed at the opposite end of the storage chamber, vertical partitions in the storage chamber dividing the same into passages extending longitudinally s of said chamber between the receiving anddelivery stations, each of said passages being of a widthV and height, to receive at least two stacks of denitely sized bundles of material spaced to form an intervening aisle and supported on the floor of the chamber, a wheeled material bundling and bundle supporting truck mounted on the platform at the receiving station so as to be disposed in position to receive individualpieces of andto bemoveditherefrom to a p ositionfin alinement-witnany of the passages ofthe storage.

chamber,V {said truck having; means for holding spaced bundle binders and/provided with-.coact- -ingrgagng' abutments so relatively; arranged'` that.,y

the individual pieces of material as unloaded from the transport vehicles may be laidthereon in-such order and to be so bound'by they binders as to form a pilerof superposed bundles each of a denite size and numberof pieces and with the binders thereof abutting and holding the bundles vertically spaced and the ends of the bundles longitudinally spaced whereby such bundlesare material i unloaded-#from La,` transport. v vehicle' standing on the roadway at the receivingA stationA adapted to be piled With other like bundles and l gaged as to relationship bythe binders to form ak stack in which the ends of the bundles are arranged in zigzag or staggered order from bottom to top of the stack, a trackway extending longitudinally of the storage chamber above each passage thereof between thereceiving and delivery stations,Y and a conveyor arranged for travel on said overhead trackwayland' having acarriage arranged to depend therefrom into the aisle between the spaced stacks of bundles therein, said conveyor also having bundle engaging devices at opposite sides of the'c'arriage for insertion in the spaces between the staggered ends of bundles of the stacks and ready engagement with the ends of bundles for lifting and transporting the same, from the stacks to the receiving station and for engaging and transporting bundles from the forming truck to the vstacks and depositing them so that ythe binders f of the deposited bundles will engage'th'e binders of underlying bundles of the stacks to automatically gage and dispose the deposited bundles in'staggered relation to such bundles of the stacks.

9. 'In an apparatus 'of the character described, a bundling device comprising a truck having a forming bed, vertical gaging abutments at opposite sides and one end of the bed, .the opposite end ofthe bed being open for the insertion ofV lumber pieces between andvin engagement withy holders on thebed in spaced relation to each other and said end abutment surface for -holding gaging binder bandsto be applied tobind the pieces into al bundle at a predetermined distance apart. i

- said abutment surfaces to yform a bundle, and` 10. In anapparatusof the character described, -l

. a bundling device comprising a truck having a forming bed, vertical gaging abutments at opposite sides of the bed, a gaging abutment at one Y end of I the bed having abutment surfaces ara bundling device comprising a truck having aV forming bed, vertical gaging abutments at opposite sidesand one end ofthe bed, the opposite` end of the bed being open for` the insertion of lumber pieces between and in engagement with said abutment surfaces to form a bundle, and f Y' channeled holders on the bed in spaced relation to each other `and said end abutment surface for holding gaging binder bands to be applied tobind the pieces into a bundle at a predetermined distance apart.

12. In an apparatus of the character described,

a bundling device comprising a truck having a 5 forming bed, vertical gagng abutmentsat opposite sides of the bed, a gagng abutment at one end of the bed having abutment surfaces arranged at dferent'levels and in different Vertical planes, and channeled holders on the bed in spaced relation to each other and said end abutment surface for holding gaging binder bands to be applied to bind the pieces into a bundle at a predetermined distance apart.

ARTHUR B. CHAMBERS. 

